Sworn to Silence: A Thriller

the sleepy rural town of Painters Mill, Ohio, the Amish and "English" residents have lived side by side for two centuries. But 16 years ago, a series of brutal murders shattered the peaceful farming community. In the aftermath of the violence, the town was left with a sense of fragility, a loss of innocence. Kate Burkholder, a young Amish girl, survived the terror of the Slaughterhouse Killer but came away from its brutality with the realization that she no longer belonged with the Amish.

Only the Innocent

When billionaire philanthropist Sir Hugo Fletcher is discovered murdered in his London home, tied naked to a bed, the scandal is only a shadow of the darkness lurking off-camera. Laura Fletcher returns from an Italian vacation to find her home under siege by paparazzi. Is she shocked? Yes. But is she distraught? Not exactly. Chief Inspector Tom Douglas reveals his suspicions that Hugo's killer is female. The deeper Douglas digs, the more sordid details he uncovers.

Minty says:"Engaging book undermined by cringe-worthy narrator"

Publisher's Summary

From Linda Castillo, the New York Times best-selling author of Sworn to Silence and Among the Wicked, this collection of stories featuring Chief of Police Kate Burkholder combines three amazing novellas for the first time together.

Long LostAfter closing a difficult case, Kate Burkholder and John Tomasetti look forward to some downtime, but their relaxation is cut short by rumors that the old house where they're staying is haunted by a girl who disappeared 20 years earlier, leaving nothing behind but some bloody clothes by the river and rumors of a volatile relationship. Swept up in the girl's story and a need for justice, Kate and John begin looking into the mysterious disappearance.

A Hidden SecretWhen a baby - only hours old - is discovered on the Amish bishop's front porch in Painter's Mill, Ohio, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called in to investigate. The newborn is swaddled in an Amish crib quilt, and the only other item found with the child is a hand-carved wood rattle, which Kate also recognizes as Amish. With the rattle and quilt as the only clues, Kate must call upon her own Amish roots and, with the help of state agent John Tomasetti, search the Amish and "English" communities of Painters Mill for clues to unravel the poignant, puzzling mystery.

Seeds of DeceptionListeners get a glimpse into Chief of Police Kate Burkholder's past and her Amish roots. Fourteen-year-old Katie Burkholder has been tasked with picking apples in Zimmerman's Orchard with her best friend, Mattie, when a group of older "English" boys, known troublemakers, interrupt. Mattie, no stranger to trouble herself, disappears into the old barn with one of the boys, and moments after they both run out, the Zimmermans' barn is consumed by fire. Katie suspects the boy had something to do with the blaze, but he denies it. When the facts don't add up, Katie begins her own investigation - and she doesn't like what she finds. Will her friendship with Mattie survive the truth?